“Maria Sheffield is another in a growing list of accomplished women who understand that protecting the unborn and strengthening women in leadership are not only compatible choices but complementary and essential roles. The well-being of women, families, communities and the nation is enhanced by ending the false dichotomy that says women, unlike men, must make a fatal choice between their children and their achievements,” said Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “Maria Sheffield is a rising star in politics, and we are proud to endorse her for Congress.”

“If elected, Maria has pledged to work towards building a culture that respects the sanctity of Life and to protect women and girls. Compare that to Congressman Barrow who has repeatedly voted to send taxpayer dollars to America’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. The choice couldn’t be clearer and we look forward to adding Maria to the growing ranks of the House Pro-life Women’s Caucus after November.”

After obtaining her Masters of Business and Juris Doctorate from Georgia State University, Maria was admitted to the practice of law in Georgia, the District of Columbia, Arkansas and New York. She runs her own law firm. In 2010, Sheffield had a strong showing in the tightly contested Republican Primary and subsequent run-off for Georgia Insurance Commissioner. She was endorsed by Georgia Right to Life in 2010 and again in 2012.

Sheffield will face Lee Anderson, Rick Allen, and Wright McLeod in the Republican primary on July 31 and hopes to challenge incumbent Rep. John Barrow (D) in the general election. Rep. Barrow has a 0 percent rating from National Right to Life Committee.

During the 2010 election cycle, SBA List spent $11 million and was involved in 90 races, 62 of which resulted in victories. Successes included: defeating 15 of 20 so-called “pro-life” Democrats who voted for abortion funding in the health care reform bill, increasing the number of pro-life women in the House by 70 percent, filling the void of pro-life women in the U.S. Senate and increasing the number of pro-life women governors from one to four.

The Susan B. Anthony List, and its connected Political Action Committee, the SBA List Candidate Fund, are dedicated to electing candidates and pursuing policies that will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List will emphasize the election, education, promotion, and mobilization of pro-life women. The SBA List is a network of over 365,000 pro-life Americans nationwide. ###